A PILL to beat laziness is a step closer after scientists discovered a “couch potato gene” that makes people less inclined to be active.

The breakthrough holds out the hope that in future some people could take an “exercise tablet” every day to help keep them fit and healthy.

Researchers in Aberdeen and Beijing found the gene mutation that may explain why some people shun exercise and are more likely to put on weight and develop health problems.

Lead researcher Professor Wei Li, of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Beijing, said: “We discovered that mice with this gene mutation were typical couch potatoes. They walked only about a third as much as a normal mouse, and when they did move they walked more slowly.

“The mice became fat and they also developed other symptoms similar to a condition in people called metabolic syndrome – a medical term for those with a combination of risk factors related to diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

In future an 'exercise pill' could be available to keep people fit and healthy [GETTY]

“It is not going to be a cure for everybody but for people with this particular mutation it might be quite possible to treat them

Professor John Speakman, co-author

“What was of particular interest was that, when we gave the mice a drug that acted on the dopamine signalling system the genetic defect could be overcome and the mice became more active and thinner.”

The study – published in the journal PLOS Genetics – compared “normal” mice with mice that had the gene mutation.

Co-author Professor John Speakman, who works between the University of Aberdeen and the IGDB, said: “It is not going to be a cure for everybody but for people with this particular mutation it might be quite possible to treat them.

“Obesity is an expensive disease. If you are able to treat people and reduce their risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, the cost-benefit equation is in favour of the treatment.”